This last Saturday, I was honored to once again, present a workshop for the Tucson Tellers of Tales. It was a joyful experience.
This guild has been around for close to (or more than?) twenty years. They have been in the process of upgrading and making the guild s great resource" for storytellers and writers in the Tucson area. We had an amazing nineteen participants!
I drove down with Dixie Walljasper and my new friend Nir (pronounced near), a storyteller from Israel. We had a great time filling the drive with storytelling discussions.
When we arrived, there was a small glitch as the meeting place was locked, and no key available. Quick thinking on behalf of all the members there and we ended up at the library, only a few blocks away. It was a perfect room for the workshop, I used the incident to open the session. I asked the group to focus in on their feelings about the happening and put those feelings into their hands. Then, they each put a word or sound to their hands, thus "showing" their frustrations. I asked them to remember that feeling and gesture and use it in a story where there was the same feeling. It was a great prologue to my session.
During the workshop, I coached two willing participants and they each came up with the most amazing responses and demonstrations of how the characters in their stories could be. The group and I were all blown away! It was one of the best workshop experiences I have had.
After a rather "large" lunch, Dixie, Nir and I had many delightful discussions on the trip back to Phoenix.
Thank you TTOT for making this workshop come together and for providing your members with great resources for their craft!
Want to learn more? Check out their Facebook page for events and other info:
Conference Scholarships to Northlands' Confabulation!
Madison, WI - April 26-28, 2019
Northlands Storytelling Network is offering “New Voices” Conference Scholarships to anyone 18 years and older who is new to storytelling and is interested in improving their skills and/or using storytelling in their respective fields.
Recipients of the scholarships will be paired with others at the conference who will act as guides and resources during the conference. Up to four scholarships may be awarded. Members of the Northlands Scholarship Committee will judge applications and determine scholarship winners. Winners will be notified as soon as possible after the application deadline.
Who May Apply:
• Adults ages 18 year and older, interested in using storytelling in their respective fields, i.e., education, psychology, museum education, environmental education, healing arts, law, religion, business, theater, freelance storytelling, library services, etc. • Recipients may only receive the scholarship twice within a five-year period. Winners Receive: • Free conference registration. • 2 nights (Friday & Saturday) shared lodging with another scholarship recipient. • Friday lunch and dinner and Saturday lunch and dinner (complimentary breakfast at hotel)
• Membership to Northlands Storytelling Network for one year. Additional Requirements: • Must provide own transportation to/from conference.
• Meet with the New Voices coordinator and other scholarship recipients over breakfast Saturday morning. Application:
Please provide the following information:
• Name, Address, City, State, Zip
• Telephone Numbers (home and cell)
• Email Address
• Employer/Job Title
• Year of Birth
• Answer the following questions:
1. How did you hear about the New Voices Scholarship?
2. Why are you interested in attending the Northlands Storytelling Conference?
3. Have you ever received a Northlands Scholarship? If so, in what year?
4. Have you ever attended a regional or national storytelling conference?
If so, in what year and the name of the conference?
5. Describe your experience with storytelling and/or story listening.
6. How can storytelling be used in your present or desired line of work?
The Fringe @ the NSN is back for its 13th Season! Explore the limits of storytelling at the National Storytelling Summit. July 25-27, 2019 Fremont, California
Want to present 55 minutes of your most compelling, riskiest, experimental or work in progress storytelling? How about joining forces with a friend(s) to create an ensemble performance event? Think of all the possibilities: 55 minutes of autobiography, performance art, folktales, stand-up, puppetry, dance or your favorite long form story!
What is the Fringe? The NSN Fringe follows the standard Fringe Festival model by providing the opportunity for you to experience many aspects of a typical Fringe Festival including the selection process and performance framework. In keeping with the Fringe principle of an un-juried selection process, Fringe performers for the 2019 National Storytelling Summit will be selected by lottery.
Deadline for submission: Midnight on January 31, 2019 CST
The National Storytelling Network (NSN) is offering Scholarships to students and young adults interested in attending our 2019 National Storytelling Summit. Recipients of the scholarships will be paired with others at the Summit that will act as guides and resources during the Summit. For more information contact Judy Sima (judy@judysima.com or 248-644-3951).
Who May Apply?
Adults ages 18-35 (graduated or no longer attending high school), interested in using storytelling in their respective fields (i.e., education, psychology, museum educator, environmental educator, healing arts, law, religion, business, theater, freelance storytelling, etc.)
I am in need of additional tellers for each night. We are actively seeking out a range of diversity and experience for these events.
Please also note that we have lined up a series of great workshops, presented by nationally-experienced leaders.
>>> If you'd like to tell or teach, would you please make contact with Sean at "staff @ smalltoothdog. com." The shows are curated and he will work with you to get your spoken-word or storytelling piece ready.
Saturday, January12th ~ 10am - Noon
Scottsdale Public Library
Civic Center Drive, Scottsdale
Downstairs in the Gold Room
Join us to celebrate storytelling successes!
East Valley Tellers of Tales is a Phoenix area guild of Storytellers and Storylisteners. A truly safe place to share your story! We are an affiliate of the National Storytelling Network. Come and find out what this means, and how it benefits you!
East Valley Tellers of Tales is a group that provides a safe place to hear and tell stories, to learn about stories and storytelling, and enjoy fellowship with others. We support the personal and professional development of members, preserve and promote storytelling, and provide information about storytelling opportunities and events.
Each month, our goal is to tell stories, listen to stories and celebrate. Join us!
Lunch Note: After the meeting, many of us gather for lunch. We invite all attendees to join us at Randy's Restaurant, NW Corner of Hayden & Chapparal in the Safeway Center.
Things are fine, just the way they are... maybe... and maybe not.
Trust yourself. Each time you tell a story, use that "inner" ear to listen to yourself. Was the story well done, the way you told it? Might you have changed a word or phrase here or there? Did you use a new word or phrase that you believe would work better for you and your audience in the future?
Usually, if you spontaneously come up with a new work, phrase, gesture, it means you are "in the zone" and things are working well for you. Trust yourself. This could be a new addition to the story. Or, often, after the telling, you realize something was a little off and you have an idea of how to change it for the better. It probably means you are right.
The workshop I did in Tucson went very well. But afterwards, I began to think of ways I could not only improve it but change it to make a whole new workshop.
Trust yourself. Trust that you are working well in the moment. Trust that your ideas are valid. Trust that you can make changes for improvement. Trust that it will all work out right in the end!
School Starts Next Week
Storytelling Classes start all over the valley next week. If you know someone in the west alley, I am teaching three classes at Glendale Community College (Tuesdays and Thursdays). Many other colleges have classes around the valley. And South Mountain Community College Storytelling Institute is always revamping classes. This semester, Harriet is teaching a Norse and Scandinavian Storytelling Tradition (STO287) on Wednesday evenings. Also brand new is Traditional Storytelling Around the World (STO295) with Liz Warren on Tuesdays.
Some great offerings. Check out this search site. (change the parameters for different colleges)
******************************* THERE'S A LOT GOING ON EACH MONTH ***************************
-------------------CHECK EACH WEBSITE OR THE CALENDAR PAGE TO CONFIRM DATES AND TIMES ---------------------------------CALL TO MAKE SURE THE EVENT IS STILL ON
FStorytellers - Female Story Tellers - Tucson
Usually sometime during the first week of the month - but check their website) at 7 pm - TUCSON https://www.fstorytellers.com/
West Side Story Tellers - Storytellers Guild First Saturday of each month - GLENDALE *NO meetings in July & August http://westsidestorytellers.weebly.com
East Valley Tellers of Tales -Storytellers Guild Second Saturday of each month - SCOTTSDALE - *NO meetings in July & August http://www.evtot.com
Storyfind Fourth Saturday of each month (usually - check calendar) - *NO meetings in June & July
SMCC Storytelling Institute
A monthly workshop designed to help storytellers build community and deepen repertoire. See the Calendar